Rating: 3.5 stars

In the past I have enjoyed both books relating to Greek mythology and World War I/II. Never before have a read a book that combines both themes. It is an interesting concept, and I gave the book an extra half star in my rating for originality.

There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, however, there were also parts that I felt fell short of my expectations. This story is meant to be a sweeping romance, intertwining three sets of lovers, but I did not feel swept away by any of the couples. It is a very sweet story, and I greatly enjoyed the historical aspects. The two mortal lovers are struggling through a very dark point in history, World War I. This is a less common setting than the more commonly discussed World War II.

Trench warfare is truly heinous, and I think the author did a good job of depicting how wretched and traumatizing fighting in this war was. I was less of a fan of the insta-love that sprang up between the two mortal couples. I know that war has a tendency to heighten emotion, but the complete and utter devotion that the couples felt towards each other upon meeting was a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around.

I was not at all a fan of how the author incorporated the mythological aspect of the Greek gods into the story. To be honest, it didn't really seem as well constructed as the rest of the story, and it did not really add much to the plot other than an introduction of the mortal characters. I think the story would have read equally well if this portion of the story had been eliminated entirely.

In the end, I can safely say that I liked the story but did not love it.

This book took a little while for me to get into -- which may be because of the formatting of the electronic galley. I feel that books about World War I are rare for young adults and I enjoyed hearing different characters' stories and backgrounds intertwine, along with the narration by the Greek Gods. I did not want the book to end, as once I was into the novel, I wanted to stay within its pages. I will definitely be purchasing.

This was a gorgeously written book, and I'll highly recommend it to anyone. It sucked me in with its lyrical prose, and was a delight to read from start to finish.

I loved this book! I was so excited to see it on Netgalley and devoured it in a day and a half. My mood right now is redemptive war stories, and this fit right in. For fans of Downton Abbey, music, love, myths, stories.

This book was received as an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I read the description of this book, I knew it was going to be a page turner but I was not expecting the book to be so invigoratingly intense. Following the story of Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette, you can't help but to read on and see how it will all end. This is by far one of the best books I have read in one sitting and I have read many. The suspense, the climax, and the drama involved with the story really brought the story to life and captivated my mind. Such an enticing book that will leave you breathless.

We will definitely consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!